Although many homeowners think their insurance policies cover sewer backups, they are disappointed when they find out the hard way that sewer backups are not covered. However, there is separate coverage available for this type of problem. When compared to the cost of dealing with a major sewer backup, the cost of additional coverage is very small. Homeowners must maintain and repair the part of the pipeline that connects pipes in their homes to main sewer lines. The parts that connect them are also included. Since a backup can be very costly and messy to deal with, it is important for homeowners to know how to prevent a sewer backup and to understand what causes them.

Tree Roots Interfering With Pipelines
Since trees live on water, their roots typically move toward water sources such as sewer lines. The growth may only start as a few small roots penetrating the pipeline. However, the end result is the roots growing thicker and expanding over time. When a tree root grows so much it spans the inside of the pipeline, it may cause a major blockage or a total clog. If the roots causing the problems are from trees owned by the city, it is important to contact the city’s cleanup department promptly. In most cases, they sample the roots to determine who owns the tree and who is responsible for the cleanup bill. If multiple trees owned by the homeowner and the city are both involved, the two parties must split the cleanup bill.

Main Blockages
In the sanitary main, there are many different types of possible blockages. The blockages cause sewage to back up into the home. Since the occurrence is gradual, there is still time to call a plumbing specialist before the house is completely flooded with sewage. There may be water coming in through the basement when this happens. If water is coming in, call the public works office promptly.

Rain Clogging Storm Sewers
If a storm sewer cannot contain the falling rain, a sanitary sewer backup can happen. When this happens, water usually comes into the home through bathtubs, toilets and sump wells located in the basement. Damage is typically confined to the basement but can also be located in other parts of the home. Making sure there is a sump pump and generator available will help prevent the problem.

All of these sewer problems can be very expensive to deal with. Standing water and sewage are health hazards and can destroy almost everything they come into contact with in the home. By calculating the cost to replace items that are damaged and comparing that number to the cost of purchasing additional insurance, it is easy to see what a great investment insurance is. To learn more about this valuable form of coverage and what it entails, discuss concerns with an agent.

]]>http://heistinsurance.com/what-homeowners-need-to-know-about-insuring-themselves-against-sewer-backups/feed/0Avoid Life Insurance Beneficiary Naming Mistakeshttp://heistinsurance.com/avoid-life-insurance-beneficiary-naming-mistakes/
http://heistinsurance.com/avoid-life-insurance-beneficiary-naming-mistakes/#commentsMon, 13 Jul 2015 16:56:42 +0000http://heistinsurance.com/?p=10896One of the best sources for financial security is life insurance. It is a valuable tool for leaving loved ones funds after the death of the policyholder. With any type of life insurance policy, the most important choice the policyholder must make is choosing one or more beneficiaries. This is the individual or individuals who will receive the money after the policyholder dies. While it is not a common occurrence, some people choose life insurance policies without naming beneficiaries.

By carefully choosing a beneficiary, policyholders can save their survivors and family from many hassles. It is important to pick one person or several people who are responsible enough to handle the funds. Keep in mind that the policy must be updated if any of the beneficiaries change their names or locations. In addition to this, the policy should be updated if named beneficiaries become mentally incapacitated or die.

To avoid some of the most expensive and common mistakes associated with choosing beneficiaries, take the following steps:

1. Review the policy regularly. Since life always changes, policies must change when it is applicable. People may die, cut off contact with other or change their minds about beneficiaries. These are all reasons to update a policy. For example, a policyholder may have originally named a beneficiary but will later decide that someone else should receive the funds. The policyholder may also decide to change beneficiaries if the original beneficiary does not stay in contact. Marriages, divorces and other life events may affect a policyholder’s decision to make changes. There are also other issues to consider. For example, a policyholder who creates a policy that names an underage family member as a beneficiary with the use of a trust would have to update the policy when that person becomes an adult.

2. Be careful about naming an estate as a beneficiary. In some cases, policyholders decide to name themselves or their estates as the beneficiaries of life insurance policies. Unfortunately, this leaves the benefit amount open to be taxed as part of the estate. In addition to this, the benefit becomes part of the estate and can be seized by creditors.

3. Be specific when naming beneficiaries. When policyholders are vague about naming beneficiaries, they can create a multitude of legal issues. Those issues may result in the benefit amount being tied up in a legal mess for a long time. It may also result in the omission of a desired beneficiary. The most common reason this problem happens is that people have a hard time deciding who to name and do not finish making their plans. They may name one or two people with the intention of adding others later but wind up forgetting. The key rule to remember when naming beneficiaries is to use their specific legal names instead of common terms such as child or grandchild.

Keeping up with a policy may seem like a challenge. However, being proactive and regularly reviewing it means less hassles for survivors. To learn more about these policies and estate planning tips, discuss concerns with an agent.

Is your policy limit enough to rebuild your home in the event of a loss?
The I.I.I. recommends the following homeowners coverages as add-ons to help protect customers against the costs of rebuilding a total loss:

Ordinance or Law Coverage – pays a specified amount for rebuilding to new building codes, should your community adopt stricter codes.

Do you know the value of everything you own?
I.I.I. writes: “Most insurers provide coverage for personal possessions—approximately 50 to 70 percent of the amount of insurance you have on the structure of your home. Is this enough? The best way to determine what you actually need is to conduct a home inventory—a detailed list of your belongings and their estimated value.”

The group also suggests that customers check what type of insurance they have in place for their belongings, whether it is replacement cost coverage or actual cash value coverage.

Does your policy provide enough Additional Living Expenses coverage?
This coverage will provide for basic living expenses in the event that an insured’s home is rendered uninhabitable by an insured disaster, including hotel costs, food costs and other expenses.
According to I.I.I.: “ALE coverage is generally equal to 20 percent of the amount of insurance coverage that you have on the structure of your house; however, most insurers offer the option of higher coverage limits. Many policies provide ALE reimbursements only for a specific amount of time; make sure you’re comfortable with the time limits in your policy.”

What is the percentage of the hurricane/windstorm deductible stated in your policy?“Insurers in every coastal state from Maine to Texas include separate deductibles for hurricanes and/or windstorms in their homeowners policies,” the I.I.I. writes. “Unlike the standard ‘dollar deductible’ on an auto or home policy, a hurricane or windstorm deductible is usually expressed as a percentage. It is clearly stated on the Declarations (front) page of your homeowners policy.”

These deductibles range from 1% to 5% percent of a home’s insured value, and only apply in the event of a specific type of natural disaster (a hurricane for a hurricane deductible and high winds for a windstorm deductible).

What disasters does your insurance policy cover?According to the I.I.I., “standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for hurricanes, wind, theft, fire, explosion, lightning strikes and a host of other disasters.” However, watch for exclusions like flood or earthquake, which are not covered.

I.I.I. suggests the following additional coverages for customers in hurricane-prone areas:

Sewer Back-Up Coverage

Flood Insurance

Speaking of flood insurance, do you have it?
According to I.I.I., 90% of all natural disasters include flooding, and hurricanes are most certainly on this list. As a result, a separate flood insurance policy is important for anyone who lives either in hurricane country or otherwise on a flood plain.

]]>http://heistinsurance.com/6-step-hurricane-checklist/feed/0How to Be a Drip Detectivehttp://heistinsurance.com/how-to-be-a-drip-detective/
http://heistinsurance.com/how-to-be-a-drip-detective/#commentsTue, 12 May 2015 14:17:53 +0000http://heistinsurance.com/?p=10846Don’t be fooled into thinking a minor leak is a minor problem. Even the smallest leaks can turn into costly water bills and result in major damage.

Turn Off the Water and See What Happens

Turn off the main water valve and then check the water meter outside your home. Is it still moving? If so, water is flowing somewhere and it’s time to investigate.

Look at Your Water Bill

A sudden or large fluctuation in your water bill for unknown reasons could be a tip off to one or more water leaks. Even if you don’t see obvious evidence of water damage, a bigger water bill probably means water is leaking somewhere.

Use Water Detection Devices

Most water sensors are inexpensive and battery-powered with an alarm that sounds when water is detected. They’re easy to install yourself.

More sophisticated devices can automatically shut off water to an appliance or even to your entire house. Plumbers and electricians are usually needed to install this type of sensor.

Check Appliances for Leaks

Appliances are where most water leaks begin. You could prevent thousands of dollars in damage by doing a simple inspection once a year. It only takes about 10 minutes.

Inspect your washer, dishwasher and other water-related appliances for worn or damaged hoses at least once a year.

Replace any suspect hoses before they become a major water damage problem.

Check All Around the House

Just because there is no plumbing in a room doesn’t mean there is no chance for water to find its way in. Water gets in from damaged roofs, seeps in through wet foundations, and can appear where you least expect it.

Understand Where Water Damage Begins

Leaks and burst hoses and pipes are the leading cause of water damage in the home. The most common reasons for leaks and bursts are:

Wear and tear over time

Water pressure that is set too high, putting stress on household plumbing

]]>http://heistinsurance.com/nbc10-flood-program-update/feed/0Preparing for Severe Wind Chillhttp://heistinsurance.com/preparing-for-severe-wind-chill/
http://heistinsurance.com/preparing-for-severe-wind-chill/#commentsThu, 12 Feb 2015 14:07:56 +0000http://heistinsurance.com/?p=10813What is Wind Chill Temperature?It is the temperature it “feels like” outside and is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin caused by the effects of wind and cold. As the wind increases, the body is cooled at a faster rate causing the skin temperature to drop. Wind Chill does not impact inanimate objects like car radiators and exposed water pipes, because these objects cannot cool below the actual air temperature.

Tips on how to dress during cold weather:

Wear layers of loose – fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Trapped air between the layers will insulate you. Outer garments should be tightly woven, water repellent, and hooded.

]]>http://heistinsurance.com/preparing-for-severe-wind-chill/feed/0The 2-Minute Rulehttp://heistinsurance.com/the-2-minute-rule/
http://heistinsurance.com/the-2-minute-rule/#commentsThu, 15 Jan 2015 17:05:09 +0000http://heistinsurance.com/?p=10797Imagine being sound asleep in the middle of the night when suddenly your smoke alarms start blaring. Your house is filling with smoke. Do you know what to do? According to the American Red Cross (ARC), fire experts agree that people have about two minutes to escape a burning home.
With this in mind, ARC created the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign to reduce the number of fire related deaths and injuries by up to 25 percent over the next five years. You can be a part of this movement by having a fire escape plan that includes the following:

Make sure all members of the household know how to get out of every room in the house;

Pick a place outside where everyone can meet and be sure everyone knows where it is;

Practice waking up to smoke alarms, low crawling and meeting outside;

Practice your home fire drill until everyone in the house can do it in less than two minutes; and

Make sure everyone knows how to call ‘911’.

The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) says people are at greater risk for home fires during the winter months. Now that the season is here, use ARC’s printable worksheet and begin planning; then check out this video from the USFA to learn how to conduct a fire drill with your family today!

]]>http://heistinsurance.com/the-2-minute-rule/feed/0Snowy Weather Driving Tipshttp://heistinsurance.com/snowy-weather-driving-tips/
http://heistinsurance.com/snowy-weather-driving-tips/#commentsFri, 19 Dec 2014 15:59:09 +0000http://heistinsurance.com/?p=10791If you need to use your car in winter weather, preparation is critical to ensure your safety as driving during these conditions can be hazardous. Before hitting the road, be sure to winterize your vehicle and update the emergency supply kit with the following items:

Shovel;

Ice scraper and small broom;

Blanket; and

Emergency flares.

Once your car is ready, follow The Three P’s of Safe Winter Driving provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration for safe driving in winter storms: PREPARE for the trip; PROTECT yourself; and PREVENT crashes on the road. Here are some tips to remember:

Slow down for winter driving conditions, regardless of the type of vehicle you drive;

Leave plenty of room between your vehicle and others as it takes more time and distance to stop your vehicle on wet roads; and

Do not use cruise control.

]]>http://heistinsurance.com/snowy-weather-driving-tips/feed/0How a Warm Attic Can Lead to Water Damagehttp://heistinsurance.com/how-a-warm-attic-can-lead-to-water-damage/
http://heistinsurance.com/how-a-warm-attic-can-lead-to-water-damage/#commentsFri, 05 Dec 2014 14:14:08 +0000http://heistinsurance.com/?p=10787Ice damming is a costly hazard facing homeowners during the winter season. An ice dam is caused by the ice buildup at the lower edge of a sloped roof near the gutter. It starts when the interior heat of your home escapes through the attic and melts the snow or ice on the roof. The water runs down and refreezes at the roof’s edge. Over time, ice builds up and blocks water from properly draining off the roof. With no place to drain, the water seeps under the roof shingles and into your attic and the inside walls of your house, causing serve damage.
To avert ice damming you should keep your attic no more than 10 degrees warmer than the outside temperature and well ventilated. The cooler the attic the less likely that ice and snow will melt and refreeze on the roof. Also, keep your attic floor well insulated so the heat stays in the house instead of escaping through the roof. Insulation with a rating of R-30 is considered the minimum for an attic.
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